On Monday, the Ekiti State High Court of the Ado Ekiti Division sentenced two former criminals to armed robbery and kidnapping.
The duo, Onileowo Rotimi (42) and Adetola Ayodele (42) were tried and convicted on three counts, which were bordered by conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.
The court also jailed them for life for conspiracy.
The allegations show that the criminals at Abuta Omuo Ekiti on October 7, 2016 did conspire for an armed robbery when they robbed a Mrs. Ajibola Oyelola and conspired to kidnap the victim on the same date and location.
According to the allegations, “The crime runs contrary to Articles 516, 402 and 403 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Ekiti State, Ekiti Cap, 2012, and Article 3 (a) (b) of the Ekiti State Kidnapping and Terrorism and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
In the court testimony, the victim said: “I was cooking in the kitchen around 8.30 pm and suddenly I saw five gunmen in the living room and they asked my husband and they said he offended the boss, they were here, they were not here, and because he was not at home, I collected my car at home, I collected my car keys at home.
“They covered me and tied my hands and I was ordered to face the back seat. Before I entered the car, I saw my Gaitman, his hands and legs tied to the rope. I was taken to an unknown place inside Bush, and I’ve been with them for eight days
“They called my husband on the fourth day and asked for a ransom of N40m, but my husband was able to raise n600,000 from friends and family before I was released. They were not covered in the bushes and I clearly saw their faces.”
To prove his case, prosecutor Akinola Abon summoned four witnesses and took the defendant’s statements as an exhibition.
Defendants who spoke through the attorney admitted that they met and became friends in prison before committing the crime. They did not call witnesses.
In the verdict, Judge Bamidele Omotoso said: “The prosecution effectively proves the conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery against the defendant. Therefore, the defendant was convicted of all the alleged crimes.
“For the kidnapping, the defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment in this SAR, for armed robbery, the defendants should be hanged in their necks until they are killed, may God have mercy on your soul,” the judge declared
